Writing about running for Tank magazine

I've written an article for the latest edition of fashion and culture magazine - Tank, exploring the rise in popularity of sports among young people in London.

I spoke to Charlie Dark of Run Dem Crew and Chaka Bars of Spartan Fam - two free sports pioneers and unofficial youth mentors who are changing the face of urban sports at the same time as changing the bodies and minds of those doing it.

Here's Chaka checking it out :-)

Charlie and Chaka were a pleasure to interview, and so inspiring to be around. Tank is out now, so take a look!

run like 'elle - and be inspired. 

The month of March

Started with Paris Fashion Week. A week of shows, shoes and champagne!

These 6 inch beauties are by designer Burak Uyan 

A couple of my favourite shows included Kenzo, which was a multi-coloured frenzy with the models riding escalators instead of walking the catwalk (below)

And Viktor & Rolf The pieces, the set design, the music, everything about it was beautiful, and it really reminded me why I work in fashion. For me, it was true artistry.

I was too captivated to take a picture, so take a moment and watch the video (If you spot a blob of blue to the left of the catwalk - that's Katy Perry)

Me & my colleague Jayne posing in the poshest toilets in Paris - at The Ritz

During Fashion Weeks, the hotel plays host to the foremost members of the fashion industry. You can read about the hotel's rich fashion history and see the amazing corresponding shoot by Tim Walker with Kate Moss in the current edition of American Vogue.

Oh yeah, and this was one of my favourite outfits (sorry - couldn't resist) My shirt's vintage - €1 from an Amsterdam market! (I love a bargain) The skirt is by one of my favourite designers Camilla Staerk, the shoes are Michael Kors and the bag's vintage. Oh and the backdrop's dodgy - apologies again.

Then it was back to London, and I celebrated International Women's Day with my Mum at the benefit concert at London's Southbank Centre.

The night was hosted by Annie Lennox - who I recently interviewed for the Observer's O Magazine, and performers included Jess Mills, Katie B and Emeli Sandé

This is Mumma Moira raving in the aisles

Then I went to Iceland to write the Reykjavik city guide and cover the city's annual design festival.

We had just enough time to watch a catwalk show on a volcanic hot spring at the incredible Blue Lagoon Definitely go there if you ever visit Iceland.

And meet the President of Iceland too!

After a quick stop back in London, it was time to brave Berlin and run the city's half marathon.

Me and my friend Rhalou pre-race

Bedroom devastation at the very post Hotel de Rome

Then back to London again for a few days to hang out with family before leaving for BRAZIL!

Me & my cousin Katie

More to follow...

run like 'elle

Running in Reykjavik 2

Every so often I surprise myself, and Iceland was one of those times. I exercised a certain amount of self-restraint and got to bed by a reasonably respectable hour - most nights!

So tame were my hours that I even managed to make it out for an early run before starting the day. Not to say I was happy about it though...


Morning running frown face

Colder than it looks

Get your tongue around that!

 Striding ahead - with flat cap

Star jump ready-ish

Thanks Reykjevik! And run like 'elle - even if only to keep warm. x

Running in Reykjavik 1

Last week I went to Reykjavik to write about Design March, Iceland’s Design Festival. I had a busy five days of product design, fashion design, store launches, bizarre food types, a computer gaming convention, parties and lot of laughing.

 

I’ve been to Iceland once before and it’s one of the most surreal places I visited. The sparse black volcanic rock landscape makes it look like you’ve landed on the moon, and Reykjavik itself is really pretty – all brightly painted corrugated iron houses and cosy coffee shops.

Despite the changeable weather – you can expect grey clouds, bright sunshine, hail storms, blizzards and Baltic winds all in one day, people here love to run! I joined Reykjavik’s runners on one of the most picturesque running routes I’ve taken – the peninsula.

It’s a coastal circuit outside the city centre that passes snow-capped mountains, lighthouses, brave birds bopping in the freezing sea and traditional fish drying and smoking huts. There’s so much to see that I almost didn’t notice the distance or the other runners.

Anyway, this is a little of what I saw. Inspired?

Guess the flag...

run like ‘elle. x

The month of February

Yet again, has involved little to no running and yet again, a whole load of fashion.

It started with a trip to see D'Angelo!

D'Angelo - Lady

How we swooned

The to see Queen Elizabeth II by Cecil Beaton at the V&A

The to the Tate Modern to see the fantastical Yayoi Kusama exhibition 

The lady herself ( even her wheelchair is covered in polka dots)

I went to see the Lucian Freud Portraits exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery. I've always been a fan of his work, and loved seeing traditional oil painting celebrated.

Then before I knew it, it was time for London Fashion Week. So we headed down to beautiful Somerset House  for a week of shows.  This is T-Rex charm was the invitation to designer Sophie Hulme's  presentation

I saw Arctic explorers at Eudon Choi

Loved Richard Nicoll's live studio presentation

And Fred Butler's origami apparel

Anya Hindmarch's all singing all dancing fun factory was a highlight

The hippies were happy at Ashish

We went to the latest Peroni Talks Q&A with editor, stylist and paparazzi dream Anna Dello Russo who talked about her career, style and plans for pop music stardom

Then we played amongst the old masters and the relics in the V&A

I interviewed the legendary musician, feminist and style icon Annie Lennox for The Observer O: Magazine 

After five solid days of Fashion Week shows and presentations, I took the morning off and went to see The Tomb of the Unknown Craftsman exhibition curated by Grayson Perry at The British Museum.

Then the next day was a 4am start for Milan Fashion Week!

Surprisingly, the sun shone and we zoomed around the city from show to presentation and presentation to show - doing around 13 appointments a day.

Our driver Seba is a Milanese reggae star, so naturally his band Rhoyal Sound became the soundtrack to Fashion Week, and our tiny Fiat 500 car packed with fashion girls & reggae music blaring from the speakers made quite an impression in a sea of blacked out Mercedes filled with po-faced editors.

The show locations are always a highlight for me during fashion weeks. Often held in grand villas and private houses. The ceiling at the Zagliani presentation was pretty amazing...

Drinks around the pool at Tod's

Fancy footwork at Furla

Pucci

Versace

Dolce & Gabbana

Salvatore Ferragamo

Oh, and I found a new friend too!

It was definitely a busy month and this is my first day off for 28 days! I loved it, but it didn't leave a lot of time to run like 'elle